The biggest test

In preparation for the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam Olympic team has played two friendly matches and won both (defeating Hanoi T&T 3-1 and Indonesia 1-0). But tonight, they will face a much bigger challenge: the Uzbekistan U22 team. Defeating this very strong opponent is the best way for the players to prove their abilities before coach Miura finalizes the squad for the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Cong Phuong and his teammates will face a very strong opponent in this match.

UNLEASH YOUR STRENGTH AND FORGE YOUR WEAPONS

By last night, coach Toshiya Miura had finalized his starting lineup choices for the Vietnam Olympic team in their match against Uzbekistan U22 this afternoon. Accordingly, there will be many changes to the starting lineup, especially in the attack, where several prominent players will be fielded from the start. Specifically, Cong Phuong may start as a withdrawn forward, behind striker Thanh Binh. Meanwhile, on the right flank, Thanh Tung is likely to return after nearly 10 days out with a hamstring injury.

The presence of this technically gifted midfielder with sharp runs into the penalty area will contribute to increased firepower for the attack. Previously, when Thanh Tung was injured, Coach Miura was very worried about this right midfield position as no one had given him confidence. In a deadlock, the Japanese coach tried bringing in defensive midfielder Tan Tai or striker Van Thanh to fill the right wing, but these experiments did not yield much success.

According to assessments, this is the time for coach Miura to field his best players to give them more playing time together, thereby aiming for fluidity in operating the 4-4-1-1 formation. On the other hand, against a physically imposing opponent like U22 Uzbekistan, the wing players will need to hone their attacking skills further, while still ensuring their passes don't put their teammates at a disadvantage when facing opponents with a clear physical advantage.

LEARN TO ADAPT

Before beginning preparations for the 2016 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, Coach Miura planned a series of friendly matches, focusing on selecting various teams with different playing styles to give his players diverse experiences. In the previous match against the Indonesian Olympic team, Coach Miura's players had a meaningful encounter and learned many lessons from the opponent's aggressive tackles.

Now, the Uzbekistan U22 team's sharp style of play, relying on aerial attacks combined with midfield coordination, will be a necessary challenge for the Vietnamese Olympic team in their self-improvement. In particular, when the opponent attacks with aerial balls, our defenders will have more opportunities to effectively neutralize these attacks.

On the other hand, against a physically imposing defense like that of the opposing team, the Vietnamese Olympic strikers will need to hone their low-level passing skills and agility in movement to find a way to score.

According to the pre-match agreement, each team will be allowed a maximum of 8 substitutions. And before this crucial "test," the Vietnamese Olympic team will gain further experience, and what they learn from today's match will help Coach Miura gain a concrete understanding of the players' adaptability and abilities, which will then be used to finalize the squad for the 2016 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in Malaysia.

PREDICTION: 1-1

According to Bongdaplus